Dubai Future Foundation wins GovMedia Conference & Awards 2025 for immersive art installation ‘OurFuture(s)’

Through a sensory blend of light and sound, the installation turned abstract questions about the future into a physical, interactive experience.

The Dubai Future Foundation (DFF), a Dubai government entity, won the United Arab Emirates Campaign of the Year - Culture and the Arts category at the GovMedia Conference & Awards 2025 for its immersive art installation “Our Future(s)” that engaged audiences through questions exploring the hopes and uncertainties of tomorrow.

The experience bridged the gap between abstract future concepts and public engagement by making visionary ideas more tangible and relevant to everyday life. This capability comes as DFF aims to address the issues in one of its key projects, the Global 50 Report, which shares the foundation’s annual view of the future and 50 opportunities for future growth, prosperity and well-being.

Instead of simply presenting information, the installation encouraged active participation. Interactive displays pose thought-provoking questions such as, "In the future, will we learn whilst we sleep?"

Advanced motion tracking mapped participants’ movements, revealing their openness to future concepts based on how they navigated the space. Visitors could engage physically with the questions — moving closer together if they believed in a concept’s likelihood and stepping apart if they disagreed. Light and sound were integrated to evoke emotion and imagination, transforming the space into a sci-fi-inspired environment where the future feels tangible.

Our Future(s) also featured programming curated by the Museum of the Future, allowing visitors to participate in sessions such as sound healing, creative writing, and more.

Through this reflective space, DFF aimed to better understand public sentiment, helping to shape informed strategies and innovative solutions for a more resilient and sustainable world.

The initiative has successfully turned passive engagement into active conversation. It contributed to a 42% increase in Global 50 Report downloads, with social media buzz on attendee reflections and shared moments. Many visitors have also expressed that it was the first time they had considered the future in such a way.

“By transforming abstract ideas into experiential, sensorial, and relatable moments, Our Future(s) worked towards building a society better prepared to make informed decisions about the future, across all our research pillars. The project demonstrated the power of storytelling and interactive design in shaping a future that feels real, not just theoretical,” DFF said.

GovMedia Conference & Awards 2025 celebrates the achievements of government projects and initiatives from both government organisations and private sector companies that are not only transforming Asia Pacific, but are also making a significant impact across the globe.

The Gov Media Awards is presented by Gov Media Magazine. To view the full list of winners, click here. If you want to join the 2026 awards programme and be recognised for your organisation's government projects and initiatives, please contact Jane Patiag at [email protected].